Spunky and fat, big bluegills can be a lot of fun to catch when you go ice fishing. While some bluegills may be in shallow water early in the ice fishing season, they will eventually move toward deeper water. At that point, they will begin to exhibit more aggressive behavior because of increased competition for food. Proper selection of tackle, bait and location will help make ice fishing for bluegills a successful and enjoyable experience.
Use Light Line and Tackle
When ice fishing for bluegill, use the lightest rod and reel available. Also, line your reel with the lightest line you with which you feel comfortable. This will allow you to detect light strikes more easily and also provide plenty of action when landing a fish.
Watch Fall Weather
In the fall, watch for warmer air temperatures and light winds that will help keep bluegills in shallow water long after the ice forms. For falls with stronger winds in colder temperatures, look for bluegills to hold in deeper water when ice-up occurs.
Examine the Weeds
If the water ices over before underwater weed beds die, you can expect large blue gills to hold to the weeds. If the weeds have died because of the cold and left the waters murky or off-color, look for bluegills to move to deeper and clearer waters. If warmer temperatures and plenty of sunlight cause weeds to regrow before the ice melts, bluegills will once again move back into the shallows.
Use a Flasher
A flasher is an electronic fishfinder, specifically designed for ice fishing. A transponder is lowered into an ice fishing hole. It emits an echo signal that reflects off the bottom, any structure in the area, and fish. This signal is then sent by cable to a display unit, where the fish can be seen on a screen. A flasher can be an invaluable tool for locating bluegills, particularly when working severa ice fishing holes.
Try Artificial and Live Bait
When ice fishing for bluegills, try working a jig with a No. 10 hook and a small plastic grub tail. Small golden or silver spoons also may be effective. For added attraction, replace the plastic lure on your jig with a live maggot or wax worm.
Watch for Light Bites
Bluegills are notorious for taking bait extremely lightly during colder temperatures. If fishing with a bobber, watch it carefully. When you feel a fish is biting, set the hook immediately. You can also try using a device called the tip-up, which you can place over an ice fishing hole. It will automatically raise a flag when you’ve hooked a fish.
About this Author
In Jacksonville, Fla., Frank Whittemore is a content strategist with almost a decade of experience as a Navy Hospital Corpsman and licensed paramedic and more than 15 years writing for several Fortune 500 companies. Whittemore writes on topics that include medicine, nature, science, technology, the arts, cuisine, travel and sports.
